Work-positioning means.



W. S. SHERMAN.

WORK POSITIONING MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.29. wir.

, @gff M,

W. S. SHERMAN.

WORK POSITIONING MEANS.

APPLICAUON FILED 1AN.29,1911.

Patent-ed Nov. 4, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WILLIS S. SHERMAN, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

WORK-POSITIONIN G MEANS.

Application led January 29, 1917.

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, l/VILLIs S. SHERMAN, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State ofWisconsin, have invented new andv useful Improvements inWork-Positioning Means, of which the following is a description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part ofthis specification.

This invention relates to the art of endmatching and has for its objectto provide means which will assure the work being positioned accuratelywith respect to its line of travel through the machine so that thecutting operation performed thereon will be true or square with the edgeand face of the work.

l/Vith this object in view the invention provides yielding obstructionsin the path of the work accurately positioned to detain the work at oneend or the other as it is started in its feeding travel through themachine if such end is in advance of the other, such obstructions beingmounted on the pair of parallel pressure bars to be engaged by the workafter the latter is under the influence of the pressure bars andexerting equal resistance to the movement over each of the pressure barsirrespective of a possible varying in thickness of the work so that bothyield together to permit the work to pass only when the work is at rightangles to the line of feed.

The invention also provides means for assuring the work fitting firmlyagainst its upper guide surface before entering the work feedingpassageway to render such positioning means effective and, furthermore,provides means for preventing the introduction of work at times when thework positioning means would be ineffective by reason of the pressurebars being held depressed by the preceding work still positionedthereon.

'ith the above and other objects in view the invention consists in thework positioning means for end matchers as herein claimed and allequivalents. y

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like characters ofreference indicate the same parts in different views:

Figure l is an end view of a portion of an end matcher showing thereeeivingend of the wor; feeding passageway providedv Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented N ov. 4, 1919.

serial No. 145,123.

with the work positioning means of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the near pressure bar thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view showing the pressure bars receivingirregular work of greater thickness at one end than at the other;

Fig. 4' is a plan View showing the work resting upon both parallelpressure bars;

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a portion of apressure bar show,- ing the construction and mounting of the yieldingwork truing means;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional View of the plane of line 6 6 of Fig.5;

Fig. 7 is an end view of one of the pressure bars looking into thereceiving end of the work feeding passageway;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the plane of line 8 8 of Fig. 1 showingthe adjustable pivotal support for the work lifting dog and the slidableholder therefor; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the plane of line 9 9 of Fig. 3 showingthe pin connections for the work stopping means connecting it with thestationary support and the pressure bar respectively.

In these drawings 10 indicates the frame of an end matcher on which issupported a head block 11 as usual, forming the upper guide surface fora work feeding passageway leading' to cutters 12. Slidably mounted onthe frame by means of gib plates 13 are a pair of pressure bars 14:spaced apart and arranged in parallel relation to each other, as Shownin Fig. 4 to form the lower bearing surface of the work feedingpassageway. The pressure bars 14 are as usual given a tendency to moveupwardly with pressure, by means not shown, to a predetermined distancefrom the head block according to the thickness of the work. Suchpressure causes the pressure bars to clamp the work, usually matchedflooring, between them and the stationary head block in such manner asto assure the top surface or face of the strips of flooring bearingfirmly against the smooth guide surface of the head block as the work isfed through the work feedingpassageway by` suitable feeding means,reciprocating `hook bars 15 working in slots of the head blockbeingshown for this purpose. The feeding ofthe work through pressureguides in its travel past ioo cut-olf saws and matching cutters is forthe purpose of performing the end matching operation accurately at rightangles to the parallel matched edges and the plane face of the work. Inorder to preserve as fixed the angularity of the work with respect tothe direction of feed so that it will continue through the machine inthe same position in which it is entered in the work feeding passageway,and in order to prevent the work from being forced back from the cuttersby the action of the cutters, the pressure bars are provided withupstanding knife edges 16 extending longitudinally of the bearing facesthereof. The knife edges score. the bottom of the work and the samescore marks fit upon the knife edges of succeeding pressure bars wherethey operate in tandem. It is of the utmost importance that` the workshould be accurately positioned with respect to the direction of feedbefore it engages the knife edges, and while the formation of beveledshoulders 17 on the two parallel pressure bars in a line at right anglesto the direction of feed constitutes a means for accurately positioningthe Work of uniform thickness by abutting the front edge of the workthereagainst on its introduction to the work feeding passageway, suchmeans is not always reliable. In the case of flooring strips which areslightly tapering in thickness from one end toward the other,A shoulder17 of one pressure bar will be engaged earlier than the other, andconsequently the two hook bars will not simultaneously force the work`against both beveled shouldersv to straighten it to a true position ifit is not so, and the work may enter the knife edges in a positionslightly deiiected from the true right angular position, and the end ofthe work will not be cut square. A supplemental work truing means,operating to again block the travel of the work at points in a line atright angles to the feed and after the work has entered upon thepressure bars and has depressed them more or less according t0 itsrelative thickness, is required to overcome the possibility of suchdefective positioning of the work, such blocking means being carried bythe pressure bars themselves so as to be equal in their retardinginfluence though the pressure bars may be at different elevations owingto the varying thickness of the work.

.The beveled shoulder 17 may be formed directly upon the pressure bar,but as here shown it is formed on the corner of a hard metal block 18let into the pressure bar at the end-of the knife edge 16 and securelyheld in place by a wedge pin 19. An in verted U-shaped blockingmember 20slidablyl fits in grooves across the top and along the sides of theblock 18 with its two ends, resting upon an inverted U-shapedsupporting` member 21 which passes, through an opening in the pressurebar beneath the block 18 with its ends engaging the opposite sides ofthe pressure bar. A spring 22 is housed within the pressure bar beneathmember 21 and forces it upwardly into engagement with the block 18 tohold the blocking member 20 normally in its raised position. 'Ilieblocking member 2O has'a beveled front edge for the work to bear againstand by means thereof it is forced downwardly against the pressure of thespring when the work is forcibly moved over it.

If the work is introduced at an incorrect angle, such as shown in fulllines in Fig. 4:, it will be prevented from entering the work feedingpassageway above the pressure bars in that position by the engagement ofits advanced portion with one of the shoulders 17. Such advanced portionwill be detained by the shoulder 17 -while the hook bar draws the otherend of the work forwardly into engagement with the other shoulder 17 Thestrip of flooring, when bearing against both shoulders 17, as shown indotted lines in Fig. 4, is properly positioned in the machine and bothhook bars may then pull equally thereon against the saine resistance ofthe shoulders 17 to force both pressure bars downwardly. In this mannerthe work is trued by the shoulders 17 of the pressure bars when it is ofthe same thickness or substantially the same thickness at both pressurebars.

When the work is thinner at one point of engagement than at the other,as frequently happens with work that is slightly tapered longitudinally,the thicker edge of the work will engage the inclined surface of theshoulder 17 at a lower point than the thinner edge and consequently theposition of the work in which both points rst engage such shoulders isnot thetrue feeding position of the work. If such tapering work shouldapproach these shoulders in the true feeding position, it would bethrown out of such position by its thicker end being detained by itsearlier engagement with the shoulder 17 while the thinner end movesforwardly. A racking movement of the work feeding means is thus causedby an inequality in the resistances opposed to the two hook bars, andwithout the supplemental truing shoulders Q0 this false position of thework would be maintained in its travel through the machine and the endmatching operation'would be imperfect.

The supplemental shoulders 20 servel to correct the false position ofthe tapering work after it has entered upon the pressure bars byopposing equal resistance to both points of engagement of the work. Thethinner end of thework, which is in advance as the result of lessresistance being offered thereto in overcoming the action of shoulder17, will rst engage a shoulder 20 and be detained while the other end ofthe work is being advanced to correct its position.

The detention of the thinner end of the work by the blocking in eans Q0will continue until the work is forced along the other pressure bar tothe point of engagement with the other blocking means 2O and, as the twoblocking means 20 are in a line at right angles to the direction offeed, it will be seen that the end of the work which is in advance isretarded until the other end has been moved up a sufficient distance tobring the work into its proper position at right angles to the directionof feed. At such time both work feeding hook bars 15, which have beenrestored to their normal positions, act together to force the work overboth blocking means 20 and upon the knife edges 16 by which it ismaintained in its true position throughout the travel through the workfeeding passageway.

At its rear edge the blocking member 20 is rabbeted to form a shoulderthat will limit the outward movement of the blocking member when it isreleased by the rear edge of the work passing off of its raised portion.The bearing surfaces of the blocking member 20 may7 be provided with asupply of lubricant by wicks 28 inserted in openings therethrough.

In order that the retarding and truing shoulders 17 and 20 of thepressure bars may be effective for accurately positioning the work, thepressure bars must be in their eX- treme upper positions and thereforeit is desirable to prevent the introduction of a strip of work until thepreceding strip of work has passed beyond the pressure bars. For thispurpose a guard member 24; is pivotally mounted on a stationaryY part 25such as a lug on the gib plate 13 and is connected with the pressurebar. The guard member 24 is preferably in the form of a leaf springsecured to a block 26 with a pin 2T passing through it and thestationary lug and a pin Q8 passing through it and the pressure bar.Vhen the pressure bar is in uppermost position ready to receive a stripof work, the block 26 is inclined, as shown in F ig. 3, to lower theguard Q4 out of the path of the work, but in a lower position of thepressure bar, as when the work is between it and the head block, theguard is raised to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1,

'where it intercepts the work if attempt n'iade to introduce it into thework feeding passageway. As soon as the preceding strip of work passesoff of the pressure the guard 9A is lowered out of the path of the workand the work may then enter and in doing so engage and operate a trigger29 standing in its path to controlthe operation of the work feedingmeans and start the niachine in another cycle of operation. In. or-

der that the spring guard 24 may not be bent out of place by the workstriking thereagainst, it is reinforced by engaging an overhanging ledgeor shoulder 36 formed by a projection of the block 18, such projectionbeing formed to fit the inclination of the guard member where it bearsthereagainst.

It is important that the work should fit closely against the straightguide surface of the head block as it enters the work feeding passagewayin order that the detaining and positioning shoulders may be effectiveand in order that the hook bars may properly engage the rear edge of thework to perform their part in the positioning operation. Each pressurebar is therefore provided with an adjustable spring lifting means forlifting the work against the head block.

The pressure bar has a projection 30 with a screw stud 31 threadedtherein and a block 32 rests on the projection with a slot in itsdownwardly extending flange slidably fitting around the screw stud 31 sothat the block is clamped in adjustable positions on the projection 30.The block a32 has a slot in the under portion thereof extending to nearits upper edge so that there is only a thin piece of metal connectingits front and rear portions and these portions are capable of springingwith relation to each other. Within this slot is pivotally mounted a dog33 with an upturned pointed end for engaging the work and the dog isgiven a spring action for holding it with pressure in its normalposition by means o'f a coiled spring 84 connecting it with anadjustable arm 85 on a screw stud 36 carried by the block. The pivotalsupport for the dog is specially designed to compensate for the wear oftheV pointed end thereof, making it possible to elevate the pivotal axisof the dog as the end wears away and thus enable the dog to continueindefinitely its function of forcing the work upwardly against the headblock as it is entered in the work feeding passageway. The dog 33 isfulcrumed on a ring 3-1- which may be bound between the walls of theslot of the block without binding the dog, and a screw stud 35 passesthrough the front wall of the slot without threaded engagement and isthreaded into the rear wall of the slot so that the tightening thereofwill cause the walls of the slot to be contracted against the ring 30and bind it in place. A wide adjustment is formed for the ring byreducing the diameter of the stud 35 where it passes through the ring.When the dog becomes worn and is resharpened its upturned end may bereadjusted to its normal elevation by loosening the stud 35 and forcingthe dog upwardly to such position. By retightening the stud 35 the dogwill be held in this position, its fulcrum ring Sil having been shiftedand lockedin its adjusted position, With work of dilierent widths thedis- 'tance between the point of engagement of the dogs 33 and thedetaining and positioning shoulders of the pressure bars should bechanged and this is accomplished by adjusting the blocks 32 on theextensions 30 of the pressure bars.

1n operation the work positioning means of this invention does notinterfere with the introduction of work in the proper manner, butprevents the feeding of work when the pressure bars are not in positionto receive it. It is not necessary for the attendant to accuratelyposition the strips as he feeds them to the machine, for the dogs 33first force them into bearing engagement with the head block and thenthe shoulders 17 or the shoulders 20 cause them to be straightened to aposition accurately at right angles to the direction of feed beforeentering upon the knife edge guides 16. The shoulders formed by theblocking members 2G form substantially equal obstructions to the travelof the work even though the work is tapering in thickness, for theystand the same distance aboye the bearing surface of the pressure barsand have the same shape and are resisted by approximately the samespring pressure. They thus differ from the shoulders 17 which onlyoppose the travel of the work to the same degree when the work is of thesame thickness at both points of engagement. rThe importance of equalityin the resistance to the travel of the work at both points of engagementof yielding blocking means increases with the ability of the workfeeding hook bars to give and take so as to be relatively longer andshorter, a condition which may be incident to lateral lplay in the slideor other common means on which they are carried. The hook bar structureunder such conditions acts as a walking beam and only retains its trueposition with the hooks at right angles to the direction of 1feed whenthe two resistance shoulders in the path of the work oppose the sameresistance to its travel. The reliance upon the shoulders 17 alone forpositioning the work would be effective only when the work was of thesame thickness at both points of engagement with said shoulders, adifference in thickness producing the difference in resistance toimbalance the hook bar structure and throw the work out of true positionby moving in advance that portion of the work which is opposed by theminor resistance. The supplemental resistance shoulders 2O correct anysuch distortion of the feeding means by opposing a second pair ofobstructions offering equal resistances at the two points of engagementso that that portion of the work which is in advance of the other willengage the resistance shoulder 20 first and be detained thereby untilthe other portion is brought up even therewith against the othershoulder 20. The resistance of both shoulders 20 being necessarilyequal, irrespective of the thickness of the work, because of theirprojecting above the pressure bars to the same distance, and because oftheir spring action being the same, and because of their angle ofengagement being the same, the rectified position of the work will bemaintained as it travels over the said resistance shoulders 20 and on tothe knife edges 16. v

1t is obvious that the invention is not confined to use with theparticular form of work feeding means shown as the work positioningmeans of this invention is equally serviceable with chain feedingmeansor any other feeding means. It is also obvious that the. secondaryresistance shoulders need Inot necessarily be yielding with respect tothe pressure bars for they may be rigid therewith and if alike as toshape and size and the spring resistance of the pressure bars is equalas with the use of calibrated springs, the resistance opposed to thetravel o-f the work by such secondary shoulders will-be the same thoughone pressure bar is depressed more than the other because of unequalthickness of the work. 1t is therefore apparent that the invention isnot limited to the details of the construction shown and described andthe claims relate to such structural details only when specificallyincluded. 1t is also obvious that the invention is not confned to itsuse with end matchers as it may perform the desired functions ofpositioning the work fed to cut-off saws and various shaping machines,all of which are referred to in the claims as end matchers and the like.

The diagram illustration in Fig. 4L is not intended to show a workfeeding means in a practical form but merely to exaggerate the walkingbeam tilting effec-t that may result from slight lateral play of theusual slide or carriage on which the hook bars are mounted. Such lateralplay is so slight that it could not be illustrated in the drawing andthe give and take of the hook bars whereby one advances ahead of theother is also incapable of illustration so that eX- aggeration isnecessary. The unequal advance of the hook bars may be very slight suchas would be incident to the usual play of the slide or carriage on whichthey are mounted, or the usual play in their pivotal connections, or theaggregate effect of theI looseness in fit of the various parts and theend matching operation will be sufficiently out of true as the resultthereof to make the present supplemental work positioning meansnecessary.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Means for positioning and feeding work to end matchers and the like,comprising a stationary head block, pressure bars coperating therewithto form a work feeding passageway between them, mechanism for forcingthe work through the work feeding passageway and a pair of means atdistant points in the desired line of position foil the work foropposing approximately equal resistances to the travel of the work afterthe work has depressed the pressure bars to correct the position of thework.

2. A work feeding mechanism for end matchers and the like, comprising astationary head block, pressure bars forming a work feeding passagewaytherewith, means for forcing the work through the work feedingpassageway, and means on both pressure bars distant from the front endsthereof in the desired line of position of the work to oppose equalresistances to the travel of the work after the work has depressed thepressure bars.

3'. A work positioning and feeding mechanism for end matchers and thelike, comprising a stationary head block, pressure bars coperatingtherewith to form a work feeding passageway therebetween, means forfeeding work through the work feeding passageway and resistingshoulderson the pressure bars distant from the front ends thereof and in thedesired line of position for the work to equally resist the travel ofthe work after the work has depressed the pressure bars for truing thework to the predetermined position therefor.

4f. A work positioning and feeding means for end matchers and the like,comprising a stationary head block, pressure bars cooperating therewithto form a work feeding passageway therebetween, means for feeding thework through the work feeding passageway and yielding resistanceshoulders on the pressure bars distant from their front ends and in thedesired line of position for the work to equally resist the travel ofthe work after the work has depressed the pressure bars.

5. A work positioning and feeding means for end matchers and the like,comprising a head block, pressure' bars coperating therewith to form awork feeding passageway between them, means for feeding work through thework feeding passageway and spring pressed beveled blocking members onthe pressure bars at a distance from their front ends and in a line witheach other to equally resist the travel of the work after the work hasdepressed the pressure bars.

6. A work positioning and feeding means for end matchers and the like,comprising a head block, pressure bars coperating therewith to form awork feeding passageway between them, means for forcing work through thework feeding passageway, blocks removably inserted in the pressure bars,an inverted U-shaped blocking member slidably mounted in grooves of eachblock,

an inverted U-shaped supporting member passing through an opening in thepressure bar with its ends engaging the opposite sides of the pressurebar and having the ends ofthe blocking member bear thereon, and a springseated within the pressure bar and bearing on the supporting member.

7. ln work positioning means for end matchers and the like, asupplemental step, comprising a spring pressed blocking member having' abeveled front edge and a rabbeted `rear edge whereby the blocking memberis depressed by the pressure of the work against its beveled front edgeand is limited in its outward movement `by the engagement of theshoulder of its rabbet with the rear edge of the work as the work passestherefrom.

8. A work positioning and feeding means for end matchers and the like,comprising a head block, pressure bars coperating there-- with to form awork feeding passageway `between them, means for feeding' the workthrough the work feeding passageway, work resisting means on thepressure bars for truing the work and means dependent upon thedepression of the pressure bars by the presence of work thereon forpreventing the introduction of work to the work feeding passageway.

9. In a work positioning and feeding means for end matchers and thelike, a stationary support, a pressure bar movable thereon and forming aguide surface for a work feeding passageway and a guard member havingpivotal connection with the stationary support and with the pressure barrespectively to be moved by the movements of the pressure bar intoposition for preventing the insertion of work in the work feedingpassageway while the pressure bar is depressed by the presence of workthereon.

l0. A work feeding means for end matchers and the like, comprising ahead block, a pressure bar coperating therewith to form a work feedingpassageway therebetween, means for feeding the work through the workfeeding passageway, and means for positioning the work against the headblock before it enters the work feeding passageway, comprising a dogpivotally mounted on the pressure bar with a pointed end engaging thework and means for holding the dog against the work with pressure.

A l1. In a work feeding means foi end matchers and the like, comprisinga head block, a pressure bar coperating therewith to form a work feedingpassageway therebetween and means for positioning the work against thehead block before it enters the work feeding passageway comprising ablock adjustably mounted o-n the pressure bar and having a slotextending nearly therethrough, a spring actuated dog passing through theslot, a ring on which the dog is fulerumed, said ring being of greaterwidth than the dog and engaging the walls of the slot, and means forpinchingI the walls of the slot together to hold the ring in adjustedpositions.

12. In a work feeding means for end matchs-rs and the like, a headblock, a pressure bar coperating therewith to form a work feedingpassageway therebetween, means for feeding work through the work feedingpassageway and means for holding work against the head block before itenters the work feeding passageway, comprising a blook adjustablymounted on the pressure bar and having' a slot extending nearlytherethrough, a dog passing through the slot, a ring on which the dog isfulorumed, said ring being of greater width than the dog and engagingthe Walls of the slot, a screw stud passing through the block and thering for clamping Ithe walls of the slot against the ring for holdingthe ring in adjusted position, said screw stud being reduced in diameterto permit of the adjustment of the ring, an adjustable arm on the blookanda spring connecting the adjustable arm with the dog.

13. A' work positioning and feeding means for end matohers and the like,comprising a head block, pressure bars coperating therewith to form awork feeding passageway therebetween, means for feeding the work throughthe work feeding-passageway, supplemental work resisting shoulders onthe pressure bars distant from their front ends to impose equalresistance to the travel of the work after the work has depressed thepressure bars, guard.. members having conneetion with the pressure barsand with a stationary support for preventing the introduction of work tothe work feeding passageway while the pressure bars are depressed by thepresence of work thereon and means for positioning the work against thehead block before it enters the work feeding passageway comprising aspring pressed dog adjustably mounted on the pressure bar.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of a witness.

WILLIS S. SHERMAN.

Witness: R. S. C. CALDWELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

